To those of you who have needed a quick but short dose of prednisone, can you tell me how much you took and how quickly you tapered down?

I took 10 mg a little while ago because my stomach is being unkind this past couple of days.Today is my two anniversary with my fiance, and we wanted to go out somewhere, but now I don't even know if I can...really frustrating. I'm almost tempted to take another 10 mg dose, but I don't want to be going through moonface right now because I fly out to MO to meet his family soon...

Anyway, any advice for those of you who have been there and done that plenty of times??Diagnosed with Crohn's in May of 2008.Currently taking: Prednisone, pentasa, omeprazole, and humira. Using probiotics and a multivitamin.bonniegriffith.blogspot.com/Learning how to live again."He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how."

When I was in college, I self-prescribed myself pred a handful of times. I found that 20mg usually worked well enough, and that 40mg would work faster, but would cause insomnia, which isn't exactly compatible with going to classes and studying. See if the 10mg works out and if it doesn't, maybe bump it up to 20mg.Diagnosed with CD July 2007Currently on Remicade, Imuran, probiotics, folic acid, multivitamin.

Thanks! I'll generally self-prescribe as well, but I've always ended in really slow tapering. I don't want to be on prednisone for any more lengthy periods of time (I just ended it after being on it for over a year).10 mg seems to be helping, but I do have to agree...20 mg may be necessary at this point.Nothing like a stressful end of semester :) We'll see how it goes, but again, thank you.Diagnosed with Crohn's in May of 2008.Currently taking: Prednisone, pentasa, omeprazole, and humira. Using probiotics and a multivitamin.bonniegriffith.blogspot.com/Learning how to live again."He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how."

Both times that I've been on it for a quick fix they put me on 30mg. This time they let me work my way up to 30 so I wouldn't have as many side effects right away. I've been on 30 for about a month now and am just starting to get moonface. I'm going to the GI Monday and will probably start my taper then since I've been feeling better. I start feeling better within a week or two of being on Prednisone though so I probably could have started my taper earlier. My GI said that even 30 mg is pretty low so I think you'd be fine bumping it up to 20 if you still don't feel well. It should also take a few weeks at least before you start to have moonface so if I were you, I would go ahead and take it to beat the flare back and then taper off before you meet his family. Even if you have side effects from it, its better than meeting them in a flare I would think. Good luck"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity" ~ Horace Mann

The last time I self prescribed prednisone, I took 40mg for two days, then 30 mg for two days, then 20 mg for two day, then 10 mg for 2 days, then 5 mg for 2 days. I had no side effects, not even insomnia at the higher dose.34 years old, Crohn's disease for 15 of themResection of ileocecal valve on 09/22/09Current Meds: Pentasa, Effexor XR, ZyrtecSupplements: 3 kinds of Fish Oil, Multi-Vitamin, B-Complex, Vitamins D, E, & K, Calcium, Magnesium, EnzymesSCD since 12/01/08 - eating Stage 3 foods

Did any of you have any problems tapering so quickly??I would imagine such a sudden burst of steroids probably would do the trick, but I still worry. I'm gearing up for finals period in school so I'm wanting to make sure things are good long enough to make it through that.Diagnosed with Crohn's in May of 2008.Currently taking: Prednisone, pentasa, omeprazole, and humira. Using probiotics and a multivitamin.bonniegriffith.blogspot.com/Learning how to live again."He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how."

10 mg isn't really enough to do anything. You'd have to do 20 or 30 probably. And tapering so fast isn't that hard on people usually, if they've only been at the high dose for 3 days. Hope you feel better soon!!!

My usual quick bursts go like this: 20 mg for 2 days, 15 mg. for 2 days, 10 mg for 2 days, and 5 mg for two days. I have never had any problems doing it this way. Oh, sometimes I will do the same but with 3 days between each, or I will start at 25 mg and go down the same way every 2 days. No problems there either and which one I do is how bad I am feeling. Hope that helps.

HugsGail*Nanners*Gail*Nanners* Co-Moderator for Crohns Disease and Anxiety/Panic ForumCrohn's Disease for over 33 years. Currently on Asacol, Prilosec, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain, Zofran, Phenergan, Probiotics, Calcium w/Vit D, and Xanax as needed. Resections in 2002 and 2005. Also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, and Anxiety. Currently my Crohns is in remission, but my joints are going crazy!

It's scary when you start making the same noises As your coffee maker.

*Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith"*

80sChick said...10 mg isn't really enough to do anything. You'd have to do 20 or 30 probably. And tapering so fast isn't that hard on people usually, if they've only been at the high dose for 3 days. Hope you feel better soon!!!

I'm pretty small though so even the smallest amount has affected me in the past. I'm experienced enough to know it does having been on it for over a year straight, but I've not tinkered with a quick burst yet.

If things need more "fixing" then I'll bump it up to 20 mg. I just know this coming weekend/following couple of days will involve a lot of pictures and meeting new people so...I'd like to at least appear decent.Diagnosed with Crohn's in May of 2008.Currently taking: Prednisone, pentasa, omeprazole, and humira. Using probiotics and a multivitamin.bonniegriffith.blogspot.com/Learning how to live again."He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how."

With the quick bursts you won't get the moon face in a 10 day burst. At least I never had gotten one that quick. More than 3-4 weeks yes, but not a 10 day burst. Good luck!Gail*Nanners* Co-Moderator for Crohns Disease and Anxiety/Panic ForumCrohn's Disease for over 33 years. Currently on Asacol, Prilosec, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain, Zofran, Phenergan, Probiotics, Calcium w/Vit D, and Xanax as needed. Resections in 2002 and 2005. Also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, and Anxiety. Currently my Crohns is in remission, but my joints are going crazy!

It's scary when you start making the same noises As your coffee maker.

*Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith"*

With the quick bursts you won't get the moon face in a 10 day burst. At least I never had gotten one that quick. More than 3-4 weeks yes, but not a 10 day burst. Good luck!Gail*Nanners* Co-Moderator for Crohns Disease and Anxiety/Panic ForumCrohn's Disease for over 33 years. Currently on Asacol, Prilosec, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain, Zofran, Phenergan, Probiotics, Calcium w/Vit D, and Xanax as needed. Resections in 2002 and 2005. Also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, and Anxiety. Currently my Crohns is in remission, but my joints are going crazy!

It's scary when you start making the same noises As your coffee maker.

*Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith"*

I have ulcerative proctitis, so maybe the dosage compared to people with Crohn's is different. I am becoming prednisone dependent but need something to keep me out of the hospital while awaiting ins approval for Remicade. My doctor told me to take 60 mgm of pred on Tuesday, then Wed drop it to 40 and stay at 40 until I see some improvement, which I don't.

Christine-I'm really sorry to hear things aren't helping...prednisone stopped working on me for a while too so my doctor had to administer it via IV to "jumpstart" everything as he said. It began to work again after that so it might help you too. Who knows? Either way, good luck on the Remicade, and I hope that they find a way to get you feeling better again!Diagnosed with Crohn's in May of 2008.Currently taking: Prednisone, pentasa, omeprazole, and humira. Using probiotics and a multivitamin.bonniegriffith.blogspot.com/Learning how to live again."He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how."